Click Shopping
 

I usually always buy technical computer stuff and whatnot online, because places like www.newegg.com and the lot are tons cheaper than a Best Buy or Circuit City. I could also buy groceries too I hear, which is ridiculous to me but I guess people can do it.

Do you think shopping is headed straight into the internet's web and will be caught there permanently? Cause I mean some of the prices for hardware are downright steals! I bought a printer cable for 2.99 instead of 19.99! Holy Bejesus!

I think eventually people will buy all their groceries etc online. People already pay most of their bills online. Do their banking online. Shop for specialty items online.

More companies are gearing up to provide better online shopping. When there is a greater proportion of people choosing to shop this way, there'll be much lower prices for things like groceries.

By the time you add "shipping & handling" it will quickly gobble up any savings on groceries. The supermarkets are working with about a 3% profit margin on food here.

not necessarily, Bruce. Amazon sells groceries, and you can save money by buying through them, if you buy packaged items in bulk. I've bought tea and nuts through them before.

That won't replace shopping for fresh food in the supermarket, but yes, shopping is "headed for the Internet" permanently.

yea, newegg.com offers free UPS 3 Day select shipping for a lot of their stuff.

I have only purchased coins from the US Mint online. cha-ching

The problem I see with online buying is if you need it RIGHT NOW, you might be able to get it tomorrow IF you wanna add a bundle in shipping.
Online shopping will never replace in-person shopping (live? whatever) because of the immediacy.

I seriously disagree. Heard of nano technology?

I don't think online shopping will ever replace in person shopping, only supplement it. Why? because shopping is fun. Window shopping is fun. Instant gratification is fun. Shopping is a process. You can't smell perfume or thump a melon online.

Even if you get nanobots to build you a new widget to your specifications on the spot--it's not the same as strolling through shops pretending you can buy everything.

Don't forget clothing as well. Even I like to try something on before I buy because you never know how it will look on you.

What has nano technology to do with purchasing something in-person and in-store?

What're you getting at?

I do a lot of online shopping, but I do like to go into the store and see the real deal. Like Cloud, I enjoy window shopping. My wife have spent many hours just wandering around stores killing time. There is something relaxing about it to me.

In the future you will have a "brick" of atoms, a store of nanobots, and you will just buy the rights to what you want and the nanobots will make it for you, in some time proportional to the size and complexity of your purchase.

See what happens.